Our BM3T 6th and 7th grade community is excited for a fun-filled weekend away at URJ Eisner Camp, one of our regional Reform Movement Camps, for our annual Shabbaton. Our TBE Youth Team has been working around the clock to put together a meaningful and epic weekend for our students! Shhhh...they won't know the whole concept of this year's Shabbaton theme until tomorrow! Please follow our adventures on our social media channels:

We look forward to having an amazing weekend and celebrating Shabbat together as a BM3T community. Shabbat Shalom!

Dear Members of our TBE Havayah Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Katherine Stack, a Newton South High School sophomore who died unexpectedly last night, as well as the entire Newton community. When we experience loss in our community, all of us are affected. All of our TBE clergy, educators and staff are here to provide support for all of our students and families, especially our teens. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you are in need of pastoral and personal support. Our tradition teaches us that in times of sadness, we find strength in community. We would like to respond to this tragic event by drawing each other closer, and providing a safe and loving space for members of our teen community to be together. We have been in touch with Newton South administration and community members, and will continue to communicate as we receive additional information. Please stay connected through our TBE Youth Blog and Facebook page, where we will continue to update our community as we learn more.We have compiled a variety of resources surrounding loss, tragedy and awareness, as well as a link to Adolescent Wellness, which provides a wonderful program iGrow (Interfaith Gathering 'Round our Wellness"), in which several of our teens are involved. We hope you will refer to them and share your thoughts with us.

This Shabbat, we read Lech L'cha - which literally means "go forth." The Torah takes us on a journey, as Abram, Sarai and Lot pack up and go to Canaan (Gen 12:1-9). There's confusion, struggle, separation...let's just say it's complicated. And finally, God establishes a covenant with Abram, now symbolized through circumcision on the eighth day following a male baby's birth (Gen 17:1-27). Backing up, what exactly is a journey?

Sometimes our minds jump to this:

...or the first exposure to the original for many of the students that I work with:

...or this might sound familiar:

Well, it's a bit more than a rock band, albeit a catchy one. We all have been on a journey at some point in our lives, be it a physical, emotional or spiritual one. We travel, we go places, we explore - sometimes with suitcases in hand, and other times while holding our tablets and mobile devices. Some journeys are for pleasure, and others are connected to business.

In Jewish education and youth engagement, we spend a lot of time talking about Jewish journeys. I know I definitely do. It's one of my favorite things to do when I take our teens out for coffee or froyo. We talk about where they've been, where they are now, and where they want to go. That's heavy lifting. And amazing conversation. I love my job. And going back to the text, God tells Abram to lech - go from his country, his family and everything he has known....to a land that God will show him. Vague? Yup! But...in return...God will make of him a great nation, will bless him, AND make his name great. Pretty great deal for Abram, right? It gets better. God promises to bless those who bless Abram, and curse those who curse him.

Imagine if we lived in a world where people did that for each other. One where our children, our friends, our families and our neighbors felt supported in the various journeys they endured - regardless of our race, religion, gender, learning styles and challenges...the list goes on. One where we could feel blessed about who we are and who we want to be, without anyone saying otherwise....or they would be cursed. One where everyone acknowledged, and appreciated the fact that we are each created b'tzelem Elohim - in the image of the divine. Don't stop believin'...indeed.

These places do, in fact, exist. Three places that immediately came to mind:

Get involved in our community at TBE. From youth groups, experiential learning opportunities and more for our youth to Living Torah 21, our community of adults who share in the fullness of Jewish life through learning and spirituality, caring and social justice - there are numerous pathways and entry points for youth and adult engagement in our kehilah kedoshah (holy community) on Bethel Road and beyond. Explore our websites - TBEWellesley.org and TBEYouth.org - and turn your passions into action as you navigate your Jewish journey!

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Karen Douglas, a Newton North High School senior who tragically took her own life in early October. When this happens in our community, all of us are affected. Our clergy, educators and staff are here to provide support for all of our students and families, especially our teens. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are in need of pastoral and personal support. We have compiled a variety of resources surrounding suicide prevention and awareness, as well as a link to Adolescent Wellness, which provides a wonderful program iGrow (Interfaith Gathering ‘Round our Wellness”), in which several of our teens are involved. We hope you will refer to them and share your thoughts with us.

This year, students in grades K-2 in our Limud learning program are experiencing an exciting and innovative approach to language learning. In Hebrew Through Movement, our students receive direction (in Hebrew!) from faculty members and respond kinesthetically.

Hebrew Through Movement introduces Hebrew in a playful and meaningful way, creating a positive first link between children and Hebrew, and is supported by the latest research on learning, providing an aural foundation for Hebrew that opens the door to more facile Hebrew decoding and reading.

Hebrew Through Movement is based on ways that children learn naturally:

They learn by moving about and doing.

They learn in an environment of positive emotional support.

They learn when they feel safe from the embarrassment of not knowing.

They learn when they can move forward at their own pace.

They learn best when learning is joyful and playful.

They learn through songs, chants and rhythmic activities.

Hebrew Through Movement is a language acquisition strategy in which students learn Hebrew by hearing and responding to Hebrew commands. Hebrew Through Movement is an adaptation of James J. Asher’s Total Physical Response (TPR). While TPR was designed by Asher as the foundation of a full language program, it has also been effective in situations with limited language goals. Hebrew TPR has been used in Jewish day schools, camps and supplementary schools, but generally with the goal of introducing Hebrew as a modern, spoken language.